Kelly vs Agyarko
Josh Kelly and Caoimhin Agyarko produced a fight that had everything—elite skill, dramatic momentum swings, and twelve fiercely contested rounds where neither man was willing to give an inch. With Kelly's slick boxing constantly being tested by Agyarko's relentless pressure, it was a brilliant clash of styles that earned Raised Fighting's Fight of the Month for July.
July produced its fair share of memorable fights, but none captured the drama and grit quite like Josh Kelly's hard-fought world title defence against Caoimhin Agyarko. What started as a masterclass from Kelly quickly evolved into a gruelling war of attrition, with momentum swinging dramatically as the contest unfolded. By the final bell, both men had given everything, making it an easy choice for Raised Fighting's Fight of the Month.
Kelly looked every bit the champion in the early rounds, using his slick footwork, sharp jab and pinpoint counter punching to frustrate Agyarko and build an early lead on the scorecards. However, the complexion of the fight changed as the rounds wore on. Agyarko began closing the distance and forcing Kelly into exchanges, while the champion's face told the story of the battle. Cuts opened beneath Kelly's eye before a gruesome gash across the bridge of his nose—caused by repeated clashes of heads, according to Kelly after the fight—left him fighting through a mask of blood.
The bout wasn't without controversy either. Kelly was deducted a point for repeated punches to the back of Agyarko's head, while the persistent head clashes became a major talking point as the fight progressed, with Kelly and his team believing they played a significant role in the damage to his face. Whether accidental or not, the incidents only added to the intensity of an already physical contest.
To Agyarko's credit, he refused to let the early rounds define the fight. The previously unbeaten challenger came on strong in the second half, landing his best work and forcing Kelly to dig deeper than he has in years. Yet when the pressure reached its highest point, Kelly responded like a true champion, finding enough clean shots and showing immense heart to close out the championship rounds and secure a deserved decision victory.
A technical chess match, a bloody battle, and a fight filled with controversy, momentum swings and championship grit—Josh Kelly vs. Caoimhin Agyarko had everything you could ask for. That's why it stands as Raised Fighting's Fight of the Month for July.